Alameda’s power managers seek new rates for electric cars

Alameda Municipal Power’s managers want to set new rates for charging electric cars as the vehicles’ availability and popularity grows. They want to have a new rate structure to Alameda’s Public Utilities Board for a decision in November that will help the utility make more money while producing savings for customers.

They want the rates to hew more closely to what it costs the utility to buy the power needed to charge them, AMP managers told the board last week, and they are hoping they can convince electric vehicle owners to charge their cars at night when the utility has a surplus of power.

“More than anything else, we need to get rates aligned with when consumption is taking place,” city manager and board member John Russo said during the board’s July 16 meeting.

Analysts have said the cars’ popularity is growing more slowly than anticipated, a trend some have attributed to a lack of infrastructure like charging stations that would make it easier for both commuters and drivers seeking to travel longer distances than the cars can manage.

AMP’s current rate policy, in place since 2003, has granted discounts of between $9 and $21 per month to registered electric car owners based on the size of their vehicle or its operation (in addition to cars like the Toyota Prius or Nissan Leaf, a discount is available for commercially operated golf carts and fleet vehicles). Electric vehicle owners’ power usage is about double a typical customer’s, Frus said.